The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    No os sos!

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by swellfella, Oct 28, 2006.

  1. swellfella

    swellfella Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Attempting to edit boot.ini file, I inadveratantly, foolishly, did something I should've. Now cannot load Windows. After Dell splash screen, computer just sits there, semi-black screen. I have xp home instllation disk, win 98 start up disc, but for the life of me I'm loss in that I can only access either the CDROM or the disc drive but not both ('cuz of the config of the computer). How do I install or re-install the OS under these conditions? Help!

    Dell Latitude CPx J
    128 MB RAM
    30 GB HD
    650 MNz
     
    swellfella, Oct 28, 2006
    #1
  2. seoul_suicide

    seoul_suicide Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    53
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    woah lol not mu ch help here but u really messed up
     
    seoul_suicide, Oct 28, 2006
    #2
  3. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,134
    Messages:
    3,401
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Put the CD-ROM in the in drive, and hit F11 (I think) to choose boot from CD. That should let you re-install the OS.

    If your computer doesn't have the One-time-boot option, you'll have to go into the BIOS and change the boot order to CD first.

    Before you reformat, there might be a way to save your data...

    Possibily you could copy the default boot.ini back over to your hard disk somehow. Maybe in the XP recovery console?

    Sorry I'm not much help, maybe someone smarter will be able to tell you how to save your data.

    :(
     
    vespoli, Oct 28, 2006
    #3
  4. Reezin14

    Reezin14 Crimson Mantle Commander

    Reputations:
    365
    Messages:
    934
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes just boot from the CD-ROM like vespoli said, and reinstalling will delete all the data on the HDD if you're trying to save it,but you'll be up and running.But I assume that,that isn't a issue.
     
    Reezin14, Oct 28, 2006
    #4
  5. drumfu

    drumfu super modfu

    Reputations:
    436
    Messages:
    3,651
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    boot from XP disc

    choose to "Repair" NOT install

    or if you have a boot CD that will get you to a DOS prompt, you can simply edit the boot.ini
     
    drumfu, Oct 28, 2006
    #5
  6. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Have you tried booting into safe mode? Press F8 during the boot process.
     
    kegobeer, Oct 28, 2006
    #6
  7. mr_charisma

    mr_charisma Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yeah, go with zx10guy's link. You shouldn't have to reinstall windows just because you broke boot.ini.
     
    mr_charisma, Oct 28, 2006
    #7
  8. swellfella

    swellfella Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Want to thank each and everyone of you guys. I wasn't able to load safe mode since you have to load Windows and that was the problem: I couldn't load Windows. As was suggested, I went into the BIOS and changed the booting order (sounds like a party :p !); from there, I choose ' R' for repair, then it was just a matter of following the directions of the Microsoft/support link about fixing the boot.ini file and I'm up and runnin'!. Again, tip o' the hat to the greatest bunch o' guys on the 'net. My eternal grats!
     
    swellfella, Nov 6, 2006
    #8